In 2022, significant dinosaur discoveries included a new ankylosaur, Stegouros elengassen, with a unique blade-like tail and evidence of dinosaur embryos, coloration, and respiratory infections in various species. Additionally, new carnivorous dinosaurs like Maip macrothorax and Meraxes gigas were identified, alongside noteworthy findings on primitive stegosaur fossils and the cooling adaptations of sauropods. The discoveries added to understanding dinosaur biology and their evolution over time.

1. THE 22 BEST DINOSAUR
DISCOVERIES OF 2022

2. 1. NEW ANKYLOSAUR
STEGOUROS ELENGASSEN
There’s a new ankylosaur in town,
and it had a bizarre, blade-like
tail. Hear all about it in episode
372
Image by Mauricio david alvarez abel, via Wikimedia Commons

3. This dinosaur embryo looks like
a baby curled up in its egg.
Learn more in episode 373
Image by James St. John, via Wikimedia Commons
Dinosaurs probably had some
color on their snouts/beaks,
legs, and around their eyes.
Learn more in episode 375

4. Poor Dolly the sauropod had a
respiratory infection. Hear all the
phlegmy details in episode 379
A very early stegosaur found in
Chongqing, China. Learn more in
episode 382
Fun fact: Dinosaurs had to watch out
for crocodilians too. Also in episode
382
Image by Sri2161k, via Wikimedia Commons

5. More than 120 osteoderms were
found! Hear all the details in
episode 385
The scales and structures in the
skin of the sauropod Haestasaurus
looked somewhat like goosebumps.
More also in episode 385
Were the spines on its neck for
horns, a sail, or a hump?
(Spoilers in the heading.) Hear
more in episode 386
Image by Fred Wierum, via Wikimedia Commons

6. 10. NEW MEGARAPTORID
MAIP MACROTHORAX
A carnivore about the size of
Allosaurus, but with a giant claw.
Hear all the details in episode 388
11. DINOSAURS CAN DISABLE
TRACKING DEVICES
At least Australian magpies can. And
they help their friends. Listen to the
fun fact in episode 393
12. NEW CARCHARODONTOSAURID
MERAXES GIGAS
A large carnivore whose name refers
to the dragon in Game of Thrones.
Hear more in episode 408
Image by Carlos Papolio, via Wikimedia Commons

7. Fun fact:We can see it on a
Psittacosaurus. More details also
in episode 408
A small armored dinosaur with a
crest on the bottom of its jaw.
Hear more in episode 409. (You
can also buy a Jakapil t-shirt!)
Image by F. J. Riguetti, S. Apesteguía & X. Pereda-Suberbiola, via Wikimedia Commons

8. We had an inkling this dinosaur
would come up based on a paper
from 2021, and now we know! Hear
all about the nearly complete skull
in episode 411
Image by Sauriazoicillus, via Wikimedia Commons
Those impacts had so much heat and
pressure that glass beads shot up to the
moon. Learn all about it in episode 412

9. Dakota the Edmontosaurus is a nearly
complete “mummy” that had a fatty tail
in life, and was scavenged. Learn all
the details in episode 413
Image by Skye McDavid, via Wikimedia Commons
One of the earliest dinosaurs that lived
in the far south of Pangaea.Why?
Possibly there was a climate barrier.
Hear all about it in episode 413

10. 19. NEW TITANOSAUR
IBIRANIA PARVA
One of the smallest sauropods
known so far (but still a
titanosaur!) Learn more in
episode 414
Image by Brnonavarro, via Wikimedia Commons
20.THE POROUS SCALES
OF A SAUROPOD
Diplodocus skin and scales were
found in the Mothers Day Quarry,
and they help show how
sauropods kept cool. Learn more
in episode 416

11. Tyrannosaurs evolved
short arms before they
got big. Hear more in
episode 417
Image by Agsftw, via Wikimedia Commons
Details coming soon in
an upcoming episode,
where we talk about yet
another new dinosaur!